Cockrell Butterfly Center

Exhibit · Binz

Cockrell Butterfly Center

Exhibit · Binz

1

5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030

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Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null
Cockrell Butterfly Center by null

Highlights

Walk-through rainforest with hundreds of butterflies and insect displays  

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5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030 Get directions

hmns.org
@cockrellbutterflycenter

Information

Static Map

5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030 Get directions

+1 713 639 4629
hmns.org
@cockrellbutterflycenter
𝕏
@hmns

Features

parking paid garage
wheelchair accessible parking lot
wheelchair accessible entrance
wheelchair accessible restroom
crowd family friendly

Last updated

Aug 8, 2025

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20 Things to Do in Houston — From Rodeos to Art Museums

"Learn about the lifecycle of butterflies at the Cockrell Butterfly Center. From lessons on their journey from caterpillar to flying critter to seeing them float around you in the three-story glass conservatory, you can feel one with nature here." - Travel + Leisure Editors

https://www.travelandleisure.com/things-to-do-in-houston-texas-6950870
View Postcard for Cockrell Butterfly Center

Rajat Bhatia

Google
The Cockrell Butterfly Center is truly a magical experience! The moment you step inside, you’re surrounded by a lush, tropical environment filled with hundreds of colorful butterflies fluttering all around you. It feels like walking into a living, breathing rainforest. The exhibits are not only beautiful but also educational — from the butterfly life cycle displays to the interactive insect exhibits, there’s something fascinating for both kids and adults. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable, always happy to answer questions. The rainforest conservatory is well-maintained and offers great photo opportunities. Highly recommend visiting if you’re in Houston — it’s peaceful, educational, and unforgettable!

Nashely Duran

Google
Visiting the Cockrell Butterfly Center in Houston was an amazing experience. I got to see many different kinds of butterflies up close, each one beautiful and unique. The atmosphere feels magical, full of nature and vibrant colors. It’s the perfect place to relax and appreciate the beauty of these incredible creatures. Highly recommended!

CED

Google
It was a nice experience and the gardens were beautiful. Aside from all the beautiful butterflies there were also birds, and an iguana. It’s very educational and interactive! I will definitely be back. One thing I’d suggest is to figure out the parking ahead of time because it’s $30 in the garage if you’re not a member which is ludacris!

Briana Rdz

Google
Very beautiful place to visit with so many butterflies! Staff was friendly and informative. Went with some friends and had a good time. There is an indoor section before the outdoor one, which has more information on a few different bugs, as well as some live ones on display (such as spiders, beetles, etc ). Would definitely recommend going at least once 🦋🌼

Le Lay Jean-Marie

Google
I just loved visiting this place ! It's like a butterfly heaven, trully magical. Once i stepped in, it felt like entering a jungle and I was really mesmerized by the ambiance of the waterfall and being surrounded by all the butterflies and geargous blooming flowers. You can really take your time to walk around and contemplate, its very peaceful. Highly recommend!

Joshua Hickman

Google
Absolutely LOVE coming here and spending time for a few hours. It's worth the $15. You will experience all kinds of butterflies and life in a controlled ecosystem that is clean, beautiful, and comfortable. It is an experience you won't forget!

R A.

Google
It was the best massage I ever had in my life. And I had plenty. The spa has a relaxing, serene atmosphere. The staff is professional and skilled. Highly recommend combination or couple massage.

Vitalina Zaimenko

Google
Great place for visitors, locals, and families. Tropical atmosphere is very appealing with lots of butterflies, birds and iguana. There are benches available to sit and enjoy the vibes.
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Andrea H.

Yelp
The Cockrell Butterfly Center is part of the Natural Museum of Science complex in Houston. Fortunately, you can buy tickets as a bundle to see a variety of things or as a single item to see just one of the building exhibits. When buying tickets, you can go to one of the many kiosks in the lobby or get in the queue to see a human. The Butterfly Center has timed entry, so you may have to wait before you can actually visit the center. We came on a Sunday during February. We parked at Hermann Park and walked around there first before deciding to visit the Butterfly Center. The ticket kiosks were near the doors and there was no line for any of them, so we bought our tickets this way. We couldn't get in right away at 12:30 pm, but fortunately the 12:45 slot was available. During the fifteen minute wait, we visited the snack bar and then sat outside in the sun. The ticket scanner does check your time entry and will ask you to wait if your time slot is not open yet. They can only have a certain number of visitors in the building at one time. The center is small and the pathway is somewhat narrow. For the most enjoyable experience with the butterflies, you don't want a lot of movement or crowds. Before entering, a human will go over the rules. Again, move slowly and don't reach out and touch the butterflies. If they land on you, leave them alone. Be sure to grab a laminated butterfly identification card before entering. It can be useful for spotting the different butterflies. As a group, you will enter into a double door safe room. This prevents the butterflies from escaping outside. Since all of the butterflies are imported from Central America, it is illegal for them to be released outside. Once inside, quickly move around the pathway to allow everyone in your group to enter so the double doors can be closed. It's hot and humid inside, so you may want to leave your extra layers and things back in the vehicle. The pathway meanders through a lot of tropical plants. There are benches along the way where you can rest and enjoy the flutter of activity. There are some food stations for birds and butterflies as well as natural plants that attract them. Some butterflies have a number on them. If you see one with a tag, be sure to take a picture and post it to the center's social media. These are part of a research study. For $20, you can release a butterfly in the center. This seems like a great way for the center to make money and keep the butterfly stock up. There were lots of butterflies. I definitely felt like we got our money's worth from the visit alone, but I'm sure some people would love the ability to do the butterfly release too. In addition to the butterflies, birds, and plants, there was also a large iguana hanging out on the wall. He didn't move while we were there, but he was fun to see. There is also a lovely waterfall and creek. It's a lovely way to spend an hour. There are double doors at the exit too. You will have to wait for your group between the double doors for a few minutes while everyone verifies that they don't have a butterfly on them. This holding room has mirrors everywhere so you can check your backside too. The exhibit beyond the conservatory has interesting facts about insects and butterflies. It's mostly geared for kids, but you can certainly learn something here. In my opinion, this was a very enjoyable experience. I wouldn't have thought about coming here, but since we were in the area, it was worth the visit.
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Mark W.

Yelp
It is a very nice butterfly center, the top floor is the education center about all bugs of all kinds some times they will have live bugs for you to interact with and then from there you make your way down through the butterfly center where you feel like you're in a rainforest with all kings of butterfly and plant and other animals for you to spot. There are turtles and birds to find. Just be careful because the ground will be very slippery, since most of the time it will be very wet. You make your way down to the waterfall for the exit where you have to follow strict guideline to make sure no butterfly is own you before you leave. The staff here are very helpful and nice.
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Gabby S.

Yelp
We loved this place!! For the price of $12 a person, this was so worth it! They have lots of insects to see and the garden with the butterflies is breathtaking! I could've stayed in there all day!! Would definitely recommend!
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James A.

Yelp
The Cockrell Butterfly Conservatory located at the Houston Museum of Natural Science has 1,500 live butterflies living in a 3 story biodome. The last time we were in Houston, we noticed this conservatory but didn't have time to visit. So this time, we made it a point to visit in the late morning. It is one of the parts of the Houston Natural Science Museum, each of which has their own admission price and entrance. It costs $12 for an adult, $10 for senior/child. It wasn't so busy, so were able to get an immediate entrance time for 11 am. The first part is an air-conditioned exhibit, with educational areas about butterflies (e.g. what is the difference between butterflies and moths?). It also contains small terrariums throughout with various beetles, flying insects, and small reptiles. Some interesting exhibits was seeing very large nests of wasps and hornets and an actual Hercules beetle. Once done, you get in line to enter the 3 story dome from the top floor. A guide provides information about what to-do and not to-do once inside. Once inside, you slowly make your way down to the ground level, stopping to admire whatever interests you (including various tropical plants). There were plenty of stops where super ripe fruit was left out to attract the butterflies for observation. It was busy enough to make quiet observation not possible, but everyone was mostly polite and respectful...you just have to keep moving slowly. There were cases where butterflies of the same species were flying/chasing together. There was one section where you could donate to release a newly emerged butterfly. And we learned that they are able to tag a butterfly, to help with understanding longevity. The center of the biodome is dominated by a 3 story tree, that looks real. On closer inspection, it was tagged as from the species (Replica artificialis). It's main job is to house the ventilation system that circulates fresh air throughout the rainforest. Before you exit, an employee will make sure you don't have any inadvertent passengers on your body. We were probably in the garden for about an hour, which we felt was enough time.
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Zo M.

Yelp
1 of my favorite places to visit in the Science Museum. Definitely recommend wearing bright colors so a chance a butterfly may land on you as they are attracted to certain colors. It can warm inside, so dress accordingly and be prepared to see many different species. Come early as parking can be challenging, although it has a parking garage that is adjacent to the building .
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Chantilly A.

Yelp
Omg! Love! Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm obsessed with butterflies. So I was beyond excited to visit the Butterfly Center here. First, there's much more than butterflies. You can check out so many other insects/lizards/etc...including cockroaches, beetles, spiders, snakes and more. However, once we entered the butterfly exhibit...WOW. It's so tranquil and really feels like you're stepping into some rainforest. The warm temp, light mist...the sounds. It's so beautiful. There were so many gorgeous butterflies, some big, some small, some huge...just floating effortlessly around everyone. There were also so many colorful birds as well. In all, I really enjoyed myself and didn't want to leave. Also, be prepared to shake off your clothing and get a quick check from staff as you're leaving. I was obviously confused as to what was going on and was told it was to ensure that we weren't carrying any butterflies on us. I get it, No prob. I had a great time and look forward to returning.
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Tony R.

Yelp
Came here with my daughter and wife, my daughter had been here before with her boyfriend and she wanted to share it with us. Let me say that we came just for the butterfly center as we had gone to the museum before and were greatly disappointed, luckily they have separate admissions so we didn't have to pay to get in to the museum and were able to just pay for the butterfly center. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience. The walking paths through the butterfly habitat were very nice and clean. Even though it was crowded it's open enough that it doesn't feel crowded. they have a huge selection of butterflies as well as a few other surprises in the habitat. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience, and we would probably come back if we have guests visiting from out of town and they wanted to do something fun.
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Ness R.

Yelp
Had a beautiful time with my niece and nephew. At first I thought it was gonna be just "something for the kids" but I had so much fun myself as the adult lol the exhibit before you get to the butterfly garden was truly awesome I loved learning about all the cool critters and we all had such a good time (except for my nephew when we got to the butterfly part he was not so much into the butterflies flittering around him and "peeing" he says lol) fairly inexpensive, fun, family activity to do, I recommend!
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Walter M.

Yelp
This is located inside a bio-dome next to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, so visitors could easily spend a day seeing several different exhibits. The Cockrell Butterfly Center can be visited with a separate ticket, and plant to spend at least 1-2 hours enjoying all things about butterflies. A pleasant park is located just across the street to round out a block of 3-4 hours if time allows.
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Monica R.

Yelp
Came here for a weekend trip with some friends and we happen to pass by the museum and got to see the beautiful butterfly garden . It was huge with so many species to learn from and the beauty to see them in their natural habitat.
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Aaron W.

Yelp
I don't know how many times I've been in this place but every time is just splendid. It's just a wonder to be surrounded by butterflies.
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Tanya C.

Yelp
While in Houston we visited this butterfly museum. When we first walked in we were greeted and given instructions to proceed with caution because the butterflies and other insects are free range and could land on you so don't be alarmed. You will also need to do several double checks to make sure the insects are not on you when you exit. There were several interactive games and trivia questions to partake in on the tour. We learned about the importance of bugs and insects and received insight on the nature and reproduction of them. The actual tour last about an hour but you could take as much time as needed. There is so much to explore but note it is a bit hot while walking around so dress comfortably. Great place for small child and families. Enjoy
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Elizabeth M.

Yelp
A friend and I were driving all over Houston and decided to stop here, impromptu. It turned out to be my favorite activity that weekend. It's $12 to get in and absolutely worth it. They have an indoor museum of sorts where you can see butterflies at different stages of development, scorpions, frogs, centipedes etc. The outdoor butterfly greenhouse has tons of butterflies, spans 2 floors, plants, is absolutely beautiful and you can spend a long time there just staring at butterflies. For $15, you can release one of the butterflies that recently grew out of their chrysalis shells (so to say) and watch them take their first flight. This is a great place to take kids too. Due to the size, it doesn't feel crowded. I recommend visiting if you've never been.
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Taylor C.

Yelp
As many times as I go to the museum I oddly haven't been to the butterfly center in over a decade. Deciding to go again was such a good idea and I might be visiting just to come here. I found myself sitting on the benches inside for so long just appreciating how beautiful it was. Another thing I didn't realize (since I haven't been in forever) was that there was a lot to see outside the main butterfly room. There's a big area with a lot of information and a lot of cool bugs right before you go into the butterfly room. And there's another small area after the butterfly room. It was overall start to finish a lot more time than I expected to spend there! I would say be very careful walking around since there are butterflies everywhereeee and keep a very very close watch on kids!!
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Marissa M.

Yelp
Weeks ago before planning my Houston itinerary, I saw Kylie Jenner post on her live story spending a day with Stormi at the exhibit. We know Travis Scott hails from Houston, so I had to check it out. We visited on a humid Sunday afternoon. This was the perfect way to beat the heat. The exhibit is priced at $12 and a great activity for children. Other than the photo aesthetic adults won't get much out of this experience except that and free A/C. Stay as long as you want to and enjoy the butterflies. The butterflies can get pretty friendly and tend to linger so be mindful and cautious.
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Rodney W.

Yelp
"We had a flutterrific time at the @CockrellButterflyCenter! We snapped some breathtaking shots with thousands of butterflies and moths flying around - it felt like we were in a very special spot. #ButterflyLovers #PeacefulVibes"
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Karen 2.

Yelp
lots of different kinds of butterflies. costs $12 for only the butterfly part of the museum. there's some beautiful looking scenery and good lighting.
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Stacia H.

Yelp
The butterfly center is a wonderful place to unwind, offering a tranquil escape from the daily grind. As a college student, I appreciate the affordable admission price with my ID. The pre-butterfly exhibits are a treasure trove of fascinating information about various creatures, from tarantulas to cockroaches. While the main attraction is the butterfly room, the guided tour ensures you can appreciate the different species. Simply admiring the vibrant butterflies and occasional tortoise in the tree areas provides a peaceful experience. Be prepared for crowds, but the center is a must-visit at least once for its relaxing atmosphere and educational value.
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Mecca F.

Yelp
While visiting we came across this museum twitch a butterfly exhibit so we parked and walk to the building. Ticket price 12 per adult. It was me and my husband. Mask are required. Lots of information when you first walk in about butterflies and other insects. Once your ready you go through some doors where butterflies are present and flying around. Beautiful experience as I love them.. lots of colors but no Monarch was spotted. Nice place for child's awesome place for us butterfly lovers
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Marie B.

Yelp
Kudos to the museum staff for a well-kept & inviting facility all around... And, the butterfly center is a favorite exhibit. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly, available to answer questions & educate visitors on the architecture, the flora, and the animals/insects. The exhibit is designed to resemble a small rainforest-like nook, housed in a closed glass dome, allowing in natural sunlight in a controlled environment. Although from start to finish it isn't a long path, there are some stairs & ramps, and the temperature is kept warm... so dress accordingly! You can take all the time you'd like, there are a few a benches to sit, so embrace the moments to admire all the beautiful colors & fluttering butterflies swirling around you. There are several kinds and so many... It is almost like walking into a fairytale garden. So pretty! It's a delightful place for a scenic stroll and, of course, have your camera ready in case one lands on you!
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Alena B.

Yelp
I enjoyed the Butterfly exhibit. To see the butterflies freely flying around was a beautiful experience. I was scared at first to be in their space but they were harmless. It really was magical. I even had a butterfly land on my finger! Super cool.
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Ashley T.

Yelp
I have been to the butterfly center a couple times and it's such a relaxing place to be. As a college student tickets are only $10 with my students ID and the ticket is worth it every time. The exhibits before the actual butterflies are so fascinating and full of information with various other animals too such as tarantulas and cockroaches. They provide a nice little guide before you enter the rainforest center so you can know which butterfly is which. Other than taking a couple pictures and admiring the beauty of the butterflies and occasional tortoise you see in the tree areas there's not much else to do. It also tends to get very crowded very quickly but for the price of admission I feel it's something that everybody should see at least once.
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Natalia E.

Yelp
I give it a 4.5 just because it was alil packed when I went but it's very beautiful if you love looking at butterflies and nature it's nothing compared from looking outside in definitely recommend for a cute date or even time with family and also for some very cute photos
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Keith R.

Yelp
Great customer service and a wonderful experience for the babies! I have to go back and get photos since everything is on my older phone.
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Claudia R.

Yelp
I've been to the museum several times and this was my first time visiting the butterfly center. I went with my 3 year old. I love the fact that you can purchase tickets just for the exhibit (anything more would've been overwhelming for my toddler). It is a timed exhibit but we were able to go in fairly quickly. There were so many beautiful butterflies. Lots of oohhhs and ahhhs. Parking was a breeze. We parked near the centennial gardens and walked a short distance to the museum of natural science. I'm sure it's even more enjoyable in the "fall."
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Shannon J.

Yelp
A must see when visiting Houston! My mom was able to ride her electric scooter through the three levels bc they had an elevator with access to all. We were mesmerized, there were so many different kinds of butterflies. My mom even had one land on her shoulder. This was her favorite memory coming to Houston. I'm so glad we were able to make it happen. It's located inside the history museum so you can choose to do all the activities they offer as well. Everything is priced separately. They even have an iguana, very big one. He's pretty cool! I'd definitely go back! Highly recommend.
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Liz A.

Yelp
Gorgeous exhibit and worth the purchase. Lots of information and presentations in the area. You're surrounded by beautiful butterflies and lush garden. You won't be disappointed.

Alyssa Y.

Yelp
Whew, when I tell you this exhibit really exceeded my expectations, I really mean it! The Cockrell Butterfly center is one of the coolest, most beautiful exhibits I've ever been to! These butterfly's are really living their best lives here haha. We spent about an hour and a half at the exhibit, as we enjoyed every bit of it. The designer of the dome did a fantastic job on the layout so that you can get up close to the hundreds (maybe thousands) of butterfly's as well as enjoy beautiful foliage's and waterfalls. Benches are placed throughout the path so that you can sit down and really soak in your surroundings. Outside of the exhibit there is a concession stand filled with snacks and drinks. Restrooms are also available. My only warnings would be: To buy your tickets online beforehand! ($12 for an adult, $10 for a child) We bought our tickets at the Hall and waited in a Kiosk line for about 20minutes because the Kiosk had broken down so everyone in line had to wait for the repair.... This was pretty frustrating because of the time it took to fix the machine when they could just hire people to distribute tickets rather than pay for a machine to do it. Also, If you go on a weekend, parking can be difficult to find as it is shared with the Science Museum, Hermann Park, Zoo, and Miller Theatre. My suggestion would be to go before 11am so that you can try to beat the crowds. Suggestion to Cockrell: Consider adding a gift shop at the end of the exhibit! I would have loved a memorabilia

James M.

Yelp
My now wife and I had our wedding ceremony in the Butterfly Garden. We didn't even know it was possible until our daughters suggested it during one of our visits to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Our excellent wedding planner, Stephanie Tan at Peachy Events (who we highly recommend), worked with Nanely, who was very responsive and clear in what the rules were (no real flours, no sound system access, must be after museum closes, very limited # of seats, etc.). The Butterfly Garden did present a special challenge in that no "real" flowers could be used in the ceremony. I put real in quotes because Linda at the Secret Floral Garden created an arch with artificial flowers that looked so real no one even thought they were fake! Additionally, there is very limited seating, so accommodated older guests by bringing in 3 seats (the rest stood). The butterflies were everywhere and very active, landing on my wife, me, our daughters, etc. We were married in front of the waterfall under a silk flower arch while a string duo played. It was perfect and ethereal! If you want to have a great time with your family, go to the butterfly garden. If you want a wedding you and your guests will remember forever, also go to butterfly garden!
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Karen D.

Yelp
Love this place, especially around holiday season when they bring in the white butterflies. With the membership, it's only $4 to get in. There is a small exhibit before you see the butterflies, and a few exhibits at the end as well. Allot a half to full hour for this experience, but you can take as much time as you would like!
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Fernando C.

Yelp
I came here because I wanted to take some cool photos oh butterflies and it was everything I was looking for. The place has tons of butterflies everywhere and they're very friendly. They don't shy away too much which is great for photos. There were a lot of families with kids, and the kids were really enjoying themselves. I recommend this place if you like photography or have kids and are looking to have some fun while looking at many different types of butterflies.
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Maribel M.

Yelp
Never seen SO many butterflies. Very big variety of butterflies in a pretty decent sized area. It was a unique experience as an adult and I'm sure any kid who is found of insects would have a great time butterfly watching. There were several benches available inside incase you just wanted to sit and watch. There were additional smaller exhibits of others insects available too.
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CC J.

Yelp
More butterflies than we even expected! Great experience. Came with my friend and her daughter but wouldn't mind coming as a date with my husband and no kids. The flowers were added bonus of beauty. Very educational bug exhibit prior to the butterfly sanctuary

Madisyn H.

Yelp
The butterfly center was cute. All the butterflies were beautiful. The only sad part was seeing a lot of dead butterflies and also witnessing a small child kill one.
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Elvira D.

Yelp
I absolutely love visiting the Cockrell Butterfly Center when I come to Houston. It's one of my favorite places to go to when I'm in town. Imagine a huge green house with all sorts of beautiful butterflies flying around you, landing on your shoulders, hair, fingers, and posing with you too. It's the coolest experience. I'm intrigued by all things nature and love to learn and soak in everything I can about these things. I had a lovely time and think it's a wonderful place for children and adults alike. This was one of my first dates with my boyfriend and we reminisce about it from to time. How often do you get a chance to take selfies with butterflies anyway? :) PARKING Available in a covered lot (paid).
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John K.

Yelp
I mean it's a little pricey but for someone who loves insects, she really really enjoyed it. It was a new experience to see all sorts of bugs in our world and in TX so we enjoyed it. There's so much more around there too so we were able to park and enjoy a lot of Houston while we were at it.
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Chevy R.

Yelp
Absolutely amazing!!! Worth every dollar. I would go back over and over again! Would be nice to have more variation of butterflies.

Sterling C.

Yelp
Today was our 13th wedding anniversary and to say that my wife LOVES BUTTERFLIES is an understatement - that's why I asked her to marry me over 13 years ago at the Cockrell butterfly exhibit at the Museum of Natural Science in Houston Texas. Today I planed to take her back and re-create somewhat of a 'moment' so I bought tickets online and we showed up, albiet be 10 minutes late. It was at this point we discovered how stringent the rules of "butterfly world" are it was our experience when we met Octavio Villereal, who told us, since we were 10 minutes late for our 4:30 time for the tickets that we had pre-paid in advance that day - we were unable to get in. Of course I explained to him the importance of the day and how I'd asked my wife to marry me there 13 plus years ago and it meant a lot to us and we will be in and out very quickly. This was a no match for Octávio's training to uphold the rules and he did so in great fashion. Not only we were told we could not enter the exhibit that we had pre-paid for $27 plus parking, but we were given no other person to talk to you other than "the manager" which turned out to be Octovio himself. If you are looking for someone to toe the company line and uphold the written policy without consideration of the very customer that makes all that necessary then Octovio Villareal is your man. I am only requesting someone in this organization other than OV give me a call and explain to me why this is the way you conduct business. I am in the hospitality business which I made my career I just don't get it. Sterling and Brandy
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Anuja S.

Yelp
This extension of the museum has the most beautiful butterflies I have ever seen. The entry is $15 which is steep for the area. I was disappointed at last because we came at 3 and they started asking everyone to leave at 4:30 because there was some functions and they had rented out the place. Why would you charge a full price for people coming in an hour before then?! The area where the butterflies are is humid (like in the natural area). It's is a pretty setup but I imagine will be congested on days it's crowded. There are large number of varieties, colors in the butterflies and love how they go around. It's a great kids activity.
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Cantrell'Armani M.

Yelp
Really great experience, I had so much fun. It was about $24 for two adults. Learned so much about butterflies that experience was really peaceful. They have about 1,500 butterflies in the exhibit. So so Beautiful.
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Heather F.

Yelp
The butterfly center is very beautiful and peaceful. It is an extra ticket for the museum but worth it. The flowing waterfall with the free flying butterflies is very peaceful. I loved snapping pictures of the different butterflies and identifying them. You can't touch the butterflies but if one lands on you it's a good luck sign. One landed on me! It was one of the bigger ones and I felt lucky. They also have other animals inside the butterfly area. That day, there was a big iguana and a turtle. The butterfly center is just the last portion of the extra ticket. Before you enter, you can take a look at different insects and bugs from around the world. They also have an area where you can see live butterfly metamorphosis. If your squeamish I would skip this first part. They have many different species of spiders, beetles, and roaches!
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Joe C.

Yelp
My wife, our friend, our toddler, and I came here & were pleasantly surprised. The butterfly center is inside the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It's nice that you can buy tickets just for Cockrell Butterfly Center without needing admission to the main HMNS museum. There were SO many butterflies. It was neat, and our toddler enjoyed it as well. There are also small exhibits included with the butterfly center, including a variety of insects (beetles, centipedes, roaches, tarantulas, moths/butterflies, etc.) and a small play area for children with kiddie tables and chairs, books, and some basic toys. You have to leave your stroller outside of the center. Admission to the butterfly center was $12/person. Children/babies under 2 years old are free. Parking in the attached HMNS garage is $20 flat rate for nonmembers and $10 for HMNS members.
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Grace C.

Yelp
I loved our visit to the Cockrell Butterfly Center. Our 1.5 year old has an interest in butterflies & we've seen them at the local park, but this was butterflies up the wazoo. So cool. There were more butterflies than we were expecting! The center is a bit warm and humid, I guess because that's what the butterflies like, but it wasn't horrible. We weren't sweating (wearing thin long-sleeved shirts) but it would've been nice to have been wearing short sleeves for this exhibit. There was an area just inside the entrance into the butterfly exhibit where cool air was blowing out, so if you're hot you can hang out there. There are stairs involved (nothing crazy or strenuous, just regular stairs), so it's not the most wheelchair-friendly exhibit. PS - you don't need general museum admission to enter the butterfly center. You can just buy tickets for the center. We got our tickets at the ticket counter (didn't prebuy online) and it was fine. Free admission for babies/toddlers under 2 years old.
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Briona J.

Yelp
This place is magical. It's one of my favorite places in Houston. Came here for my birthday then brought a friend from out of town here. I think it can be enjoyed by children and adults alike or just adults who want to feel like a kid again. Especially when the butterflies land on you lol. It's definitely a short visit type of place, but you can definitely have a good time and zen out in a simulated rain forest environment if you come when there isn't a lot of traffic. I strongly suggest going at opening during the week to avoid crowds.
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Kimberly S.

Yelp
Went on a date with my husband today at the museum and the butterfly pavilion. The butterfly exhibit was so much fun, we had a blast. Butterflies flying all around you in a lush tropical garden. Lots of things to learn and discover. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice day of adventure and being around nature. Also great for kids and families!
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Jessicca A.

Yelp
This place is soooo cool!!! The butterfly's are precious!!! I enjoyed my time learning about them and adoring all their different colors.
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L M.

Yelp
Took my mom here for Mother's Day, was certain she would love it and I would have a pretty lame time. It actually turned out to be pretty awesome. It's sort of magical and I would absolutely recommend.
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Karla R.

Yelp
It is a museum, it was a little confusing in where to get tickets and where the box office was for them. Overall, I'd say it was a really cool experience, definitely a place for young kids and school field trip experience.
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Leo C.

Yelp
It was a fun little date very relaxing to actually spend some time and look around at the different species of butterflies.